Villa's first-team players geared up for the Saints clash at Bodymoor Heath this afternoon.

Paul Lambert puts his players through their paces and club photographer Neville Williams was on hand to record the final session in pictures.

Click here to check out the image gallery.

Christian Benteke was all-smiles throughout as he aimed to impress Lambert enough to earn a starting berth at St Mary's.

Lambert spoke to the press after the wet and windy session on the famous fields and said Benteke had been a "handful" all week.

The session was also notable for the appearance of Marc Albrighton, who was in the thick of things with his fellow players.

Albrighton returned to training on Sunday and told us it's been a "dream" to be back.

Despite working well, Lambert said that the Saints match would come too soon for the talented winger.

He told the press: "Marc is doing really well at the minute but still too early for him. Everyone else is okay."

The likes of Gabby Agbonlahor, Darren Bent, Ciaran Clark and Ron Vlaar also feature in our exclusive picture special.

Click here to check out the image gallery.